An Fóram Uisce, the statutory body established in 2018 to facilitate stakeholder engagement and address water quality issues, is reminding rural dwellers about the availability of grants to address faulty domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS) and water quality issues in private wells.
This comes on the back of the rural water awareness week, hosted by the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.
Figure 1: High status objective catchments where householders with Domestic waste water treatment issues can avail of grants for remediation works.
One of the main aims of the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 is to address faulty DWWTS, with help provided through the provision of a grant. Households can avail of a grant of up to 85% towards the cost of repairs/upgrades to a maximum value of €5,000. DWWTS are eligible if they meet one of three criteria:
Identified in the National Inspection Plan.Are located in river catchments with a High Status Water Quality Objective. If they are identified by scientists working in Priority Areas for Action.Private wells
An Fóram Uisce also wishes to remind readers about the grant rehabilitating private wells, introduced by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government earlier this year. In the region of 11% of Irish dwellers get their water from private water supplies, with this statistic significantly higher among the farming community. The grants, which are available under the Rural Water Programme, are for carrying out improvements to private water supplies for human consumption and domestic purposes.
Figure 2: Priority Areas for Action
Grants for rehabilitation works are available to a maximum of €3,000, or up to 85% of approved costs. If the housing authority agrees a new well is the most appropriate solution, then a grant of 85% of approved costs to a maximum of €5,000 investment can be approved. Water quality treatment (filtration and UV treatment) also qualifies for 100% funding to a maximum sum of €1,000. The minimum grant threshold is €750.
Testing private water sources
The responsibility for testing drinking water quality in private wells falls on the owner of the well and not local authorities. It is recommended to carry out tests regularly, as people drinking from private wells are shown to be four times more likely to suffer from illnesses such as VTEC (a form of E.coli), which is caused by contaminated water.
An Fóram is encouraging all users of private wells to contact their Local Authority if they have concerns over drinking water quality. Information about testing water quality or well maintenance is also available on www.epa.ie.
An Fóram Uisce, the statutory body established in 2018 to facilitate stakeholder engagement and address water quality issues, is reminding rural dwellers about the availability of grants to address faulty domestic waste water treatment systems (DWWTS) and water quality issues in private wells.
This comes on the back of the rural water awareness week, hosted by the National Federation of Group Water Schemes.
Figure 1: High status objective catchments where householders with Domestic waste water treatment issues can avail of grants for remediation works.
One of the main aims of the River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 is to address faulty DWWTS, with help provided through the provision of a grant. Households can avail of a grant of up to 85% towards the cost of repairs/upgrades to a maximum value of €5,000. DWWTS are eligible if they meet one of three criteria:
Identified in the National Inspection Plan.Are located in river catchments with a High Status Water Quality Objective. If they are identified by scientists working in Priority Areas for Action.Private wells
An Fóram Uisce also wishes to remind readers about the grant rehabilitating private wells, introduced by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government earlier this year. In the region of 11% of Irish dwellers get their water from private water supplies, with this statistic significantly higher among the farming community. The grants, which are available under the Rural Water Programme, are for carrying out improvements to private water supplies for human consumption and domestic purposes.
Figure 2: Priority Areas for Action
Grants for rehabilitation works are available to a maximum of €3,000, or up to 85% of approved costs. If the housing authority agrees a new well is the most appropriate solution, then a grant of 85% of approved costs to a maximum of €5,000 investment can be approved. Water quality treatment (filtration and UV treatment) also qualifies for 100% funding to a maximum sum of €1,000. The minimum grant threshold is €750.
Testing private water sources
The responsibility for testing drinking water quality in private wells falls on the owner of the well and not local authorities. It is recommended to carry out tests regularly, as people drinking from private wells are shown to be four times more likely to suffer from illnesses such as VTEC (a form of E.coli), which is caused by contaminated water.
An Fóram is encouraging all users of private wells to contact their Local Authority if they have concerns over drinking water quality. Information about testing water quality or well maintenance is also available on www.epa.ie.
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